Arpeggio of Blue Steel

Arpeggio of Blue Steel (蒼き鋼のアルペジオ, Aoki Hagane no Arpeggio: Ars Nova) is a Japanese manga series produced by Ark Performance and serialized in Shōnen Gahosha’s Young King Ours. Nine manga volumes have been released and an anime series by Studio Sanzigen aired from October 7, 2013 to December 23, 2013. The same studio is also producing two films based on the series. The first film was released on January 31, 2015 while the second film will be released on October 3, 2015.

By 2039, global warming had caused sea levels to rise and large amount of territory to be lost. As though in response, a mysterious group of warships clad in mist, “the Fleet of Mist,” appeared in every corner of the ocean, and began attacking human ships. In spite of humanity mustering all their strength, they were utterly defeated by the Mist’s overwhelming force. All of humanity’s trade routes were blockaded by the Fleet of Mist, their political economy was destroyed, and the human race was steadily beaten down. Seven years later, the Fleet of Mist’s submarine I-401 appears before cadet Gunzo Chihaya. The humanoid life form that pilots the sub, who should be their enemy, is instead offering her services to mankind.